Language is funny business. In English “bad” is a word that means, well rotten, not good, or something of poor quality. Then, you have the slang term “bad” which means quite the opposite — something totally awesome and first rate. Add in the German word “bad” and you’ve got somethings that means bath. Confusing, yes?
Let me see if I can help. Bad Staffelstein is a bath spa town that’s bad! Sorry, I mean the super, primo, outstanding definition of the word.
All jokes about language aside, Bad Staffelstein really is one of the finest towns in all of Bavaria. OK, there are lots of those; but, I really mean it this time.
The twenty municipalities that make up Bad Staffelstein are filled with all sorts of fun, educational, and relaxing activities. For example, over at Banz Castle there is a huge collection of fossil finds. I haven’t met a kid yet that doesn’t love dinosaurs.
That’s on top of the fact that the castle is a piece of Upper Franconian history in itself.
One of the most compelling pieces of Bad Staffelstein’s history comes not from the castle; but, from one of its churches. The Basilica of the Vierzehnheiligen (Fourteen Holy Helpers) is a Pilgrimage Church where the spiritually faithful come, mostly between May to October. Don’t confuse this church with the Banz Abbey, another piece of Bad Staffelstein’s religious history.
Forgive me for paraphrasing, but legend tells of a Franciscan monk who saw a child crying in a field sometime in 1445 in the midst of a plague epidemic. The monk tries to comfort the child and it disappeared, going on to see this spectral being again two more times, including once more with thirteen other children. Miraculously after this, and the start of the building in the church, neighbors started healing from the Plague.
I don’t think a soak in a thermal spring or a massage would have helped with the plague. But, I believe that will help sooth away the aches, pains, and stresses of today. I haven’t met a mom yet that doesn’t appreciate a relaxing massage.
Believe me now that Bad Staffelstein is one “awefully bad” Bavarian borough? :-)
